May Day 2018

Once again, the SDA will be participating in this year’s May Day celebrations. This follows our successful turn out in 2017 where our union had its largest ever showing.

May Day, also known as International Workers Day, is a day when unions and workers all around the world celebrate the things we’ve achieved together – and to demonstrate our resolve in defending such achievements.

In 2018, Australian unions face renewed hostility from big business and their friends in the federal government.

The decision by the Fair Work Commission to cut penalty rates has begun to take effect since July last year meaning that hundreds of thousands of people are worse-off (with more cuts to come). There is no evidence these cuts have created jobs, despite arguments from big business that they would.

Wage growth in Australia has stalled while corporate profits climb. Workers are increasingly productive but not getting a proportionate increase in their wages.

Instead of addressing this big problem, the federal government has passed laws that make it harder for unions to do our jobs.

But unions like the SDA are fighting back.

We’ve fought the bad penalty rates decision all the way to the Federal Court. We’ve lobbied the ALP who have given a commitment to legislate to restore our penalty rates if they are elected into government.

We’ve won new rights in some awards, like the right of casuals to convert to permanent in the retail award.

We’ve fought bad Agreements like the ALDI Agreements all the way to the High Court.

We’ve campaigned against longer trading hours in Western Australia.

Last year, the SDA had a great turnout at May Day – and we want to do it again this year.